THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 24, 1994 TAG: 9410240061
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Tracy Lawrence, The Mann Sisters. Saturday at Willett Hall, Portsmouth.
Tracy Lawrence once said that his ambition is to ``keep the country in the music.''
For the most part, that was the story Saturday at Willett Hall, but so was rockin' and jammin'.
Whatever he did, the audience approved, particularly many of the women who squealed with every blink of a Lawrence eye.
He is the prototype WASP - 6 feet tall, blond hair, blue eyes. He has an enjoyable Atlanta, Texas, drawl, an enjoyable baritone voice, and puts on an enjoyable show - nothing startling, but certainly nothing shabby.
During the past few years Lawrence has been in the AAA - awards, accolades and albums of platinum and gold.
In a crowded business that seems to get tougher and more competitive each month, he more than holds his own.
One reason is his obvious love of that stage and his audience. He talks to his fans like an ole buddy, often involving them in some of the up-tempo offerings.
Lawrence glides neatly from up-tempo to ballads, from old hits to another old reliable - plugs for the latest album.
His new CD, ``As Any Fool Can See,'' has already presented him with a hit, ``I See It Now.''
Some of the oldies on Saturday's program included ``Somebody Paints the Wall,'' ``Runnin' Behind'' and his first number-one hit, the title tune from his initial album, ``Sticks and Stones,'' which yielded three number one hits.
Four number-one singles came from album number two, ``Alibis.'' The title tune seemed to be the audience favorite at acoustically wonderful Willett Hall.
Most of Lawrence's hardcore country offerings reflect the men who inspired him - George Strait, Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley.
Saturday night, Lawrence performed his contribution on the Whitley tribute album, ``I'm Over You,'' and he paid tribute to Haggard with ``Mama Tried.''
He also paid tribute to John Anderson, a singing partner on record, with ``Swingin','' an appropriate choice. It gave his band - Little Elvis, yet - the opportunity to do just that.
There have been many opportunities to catch up with the Mann Sisters. Recently, they opened for Dan Seals, they did the same for Lawrence and, Sunday, did the honors at Rhinestone Cowboy for Faith Hill.
The local ladies are in demand for good reason - their harmony is excellent, their act very professional.
Echoing the big guys, Cathey and Debbie Mann spent part of their time onstage promoting their CD, ``It Ain't One Way.''
A highlight of their set was Debbie Mann's hearty performance of ``Always Remember How to Sing the Blues.''
She does. ILLUSTRATION: Tracy Lawrence shows an appreciative audience why he stands out
in a crowded field of country singers.
by CNB